Adam Gase talks with Kenyan Drake.
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase didn’t have much to say Tuesday about releasing defensive tackle Gabe Wright, hours after he delivered a blindside hit on running back Kenyan Drake during a team fight in Monday’s practice.
But Gase said he talked to Drake about his role in the scuffle and retaliating. Drake, along with wide receiver Jarvis Landry, was ejected from last year’s finale against Buffalo under similar circumstances. Miami lost, 22-16.
“We had a conversation about a couple things,” Gase said. “For me, I lost my cool a little bit because I was a little frustrated that he got upset because that’s exactly the first thing that popped in my head. It’s a little harder to call plays when he’s out of the game or he’s not even available.
“We talked about that, and at the same time, I think he has a clear understanding of we’re counting on him.”
Last season, Gase described himself, Landry and running back Jay Ajayi as the “hotheads” on the team. Ajayi (traded to Philadelphia) and Landry (traded to Cleveland) are both gone.
Gase seemed to want to impress upon Drake, the NFL’s leading rusher the last five weeks of the 2017 season with
444 yards, his importance to the offense, among other things.
“There’s a lot of people that if he’s not in the game or he’s not on the sideline or we don’t have him because he’s either ejected or he gets hurt because of something like that, he’s letting a lot of people down,” Gase said. “He understood where I was coming from.
“I love his emotion, I love his passion. You don’t want to take that away, but at the same time, he’s a really good player and he’s young and we need to have him on the field.”
As for Wright, a third-year player who was questionable to make the 53-man regular-season
roster, he apparently sealed his fate Monday by delivering an elbow to Drake’s back after a fight between running back Senorise Perry and defensive tackle Anthony Moten.
“It was time for us to move on,” Gase said. “I don’t really think I need to get into more detail than that. It’s part of the NFL.”
Pressed on subject, Gase again deflected.
“We moved on,” he said. “It is what it is. I know you want more, but that’s all I’m saying about it.”